Good heavens, I need to post...

And, I have nothing monumental to say...so, thanks to the lovely Nicole at Sitting Still, I think I'll post my latest workout downloads that I'm digging lately...just to share the good tunage. I always end up downloading some old stuff I've heard on the radio randomly as much as I do new songs.

Hot new stuff:
So What - Pink
Hot and Cold - Katy Perry (LOVING IT! If you have the CD, let me know if it's good!)
Womanizer - Britney Spears
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Cry for You - September

Good old stuff:
Potential Breakup Song - Aly and AJ
We Like to Party - Various Artists
All The Things She Said - T.A.T.U.
Reach Up for the Sunrise - Duran Duran (Jason Nevins Remix)
Baba O'Riley - The Who
Stir It Up - Patti Labelle

More soon, I promise! (And, yes, for those of you who pay attention--workouts mean that, yes, my broken toe is FINALLY getting better! Finally!)

Now, your turn! Comment and do share your latest or favorite downloads...

Gone Country?

This weekend we embarked upon another Cub Scout camp out. Growing up in rural Texas and as the granddaughter of a cattle rancher, I consider myself kind of "country," but not a full-fledged redneck. But, oddly, even though I'm a sporty gal, I never camped growing up. And, I find I'm still getting used to it.

The trip was great and the weather was idea. Mosquitoes were bad, but that's to be expected after Hurricane Ike really. The scouts always have fun activities for the kids during the day. The only bummer was, thanks to an outdoor burning ban, we couldn't build a campfire and that really took away from things in the evening. So, we all crashed early, and when I couldn't sleep thanks to a neighboring tent's snoring orchestra, I got a ton of reading done by flashlight on a book I've been enjoying.

But, here's my burning camping question, because I know a few of my readers are camping enthusiasts. What is your stance on camping showers? We were only there one night and, in my experience at Texas state parks, the facilities are, shall we say, less than desirable? I typically use them only for potty visits. With just one night there, I can deodorize and brush teeth and save myself the trauma of showering in a disgusting shower and clean up when I get home. But, while I was there, I noticed a mother of four in the evening there frantically scrubbing down kids and trying to get them showered before bedtime.

I found this odd. You'll subject your kids to showering in a really disgusting shower to clean them up before sleeping on the ground? Do you "keep clean" in the same way as at home when you camp out? Or, do you, like me, do the bare basics and throw on a ball cap to hide your grudginess until you can get home?

And, while I'm discussing going country, I have some "Country" to share by way of CD. Growing up in my tiny Texas hometown, it would be impossible for me to not be a country music fan. Well, "NOW That’s What I Call Country" arrived in stores this fall and features today’s hottest country hits from Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and many more.

This CD features 20 hit songs from the superstars of country music, including 15 Top-5 singles. NOW That’s What I Call Country is the first country music project for the successful NOW That's What I Call Music! series of compilation albums. In addition, the CD will also unlock free downloads from other new up-and-coming country artists.

The first person to email me gets this CD for free! Here's a link to the CD online where you can see the playlist and get in on a special ordering offer if you order today as well!

Straight up now tell me...what do you think?

I was a teen in the 80s, graduating from high school in 1988. And, back in the day, I really loved me some Paula Abdul. I thought she was a great dancer and performer. Looking back, she was the pre-Britney--you know before Brit-Brit got so messed up in the head? She had great videos and classic pop songs. Her cassette (for those who remember what those were!) was well worn by the time I was done with it, from many days practicing my baton twirling in the driveway to "Straight Up," "Cold Hearted," and "The Way that You Love Me." I thought she was the bomb right along with Arsenio Hall.

So, a few weeks back, I heard buzz of her coming out with a new song and people joking about this in the same way they talked about Sly Stallone making another Rocky. Where's the love, people?

The first time I listened to it, I thought, hmm... not bad for your first song in the past decade. It's very techno/synthesized, much like Spears' songs. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy the beat though.

Yesterday, I clicked over to watch her new video, which features Randy Jackson on guitar and Paula back dancing again. I watched and listened. And, honestly, I liked it. There are some cheese scenes with the dancers all posing in bizarre poses, but most of it is classic Abdul choreography.

It made me like the song more seeing the video. I like that she included Randy Jackson and a frozen shot of the American Idol celebs at the end. I like that she's gone right back to her great dancing and pop sound. And, honestly, homegirl looks pretty darn good in the shorty outfit for someone who is well into their 40s. A hell of a lot better than our current pop queen wasted and stumbling around the stage.

Now, the news is out today that Abdul is embarassed and unhappy with the video. I was surprised by this. The video has barely gotten time to get out there and she's already saying she doesn't like it? I see nothing to be embarassed about...but maybe it is because I used to like her so much.

Check it out here and tell me what you think. To me, it is no different than most of Britney's videos except thankfully she doesn't have choreographed gang-bang action or groping going on. I think Paula should feel pretty proud as this is a decent comeback effort, if you asked me! She's had her down moments and has battled through a lot over the years, including chronic health problems.

In fact, I think I'm going to go download that song and Straight Up to my Ipod--they'll make great workout songs!

Bulleted brain bouncing...

I've got nothing substantial that I can stop and blog about, so instead enjoy where my brain bounces when I use bullets.

• Don't you just love stumbling across a new voice that you can't get enough of? No, I'm not talking about my karaoke exploits again. I'm talking about Sara Bareilles. She's like a softer more easy-going Fiona Apple in her early days. I downloaded her newest CD and I keep listening to it over and over, loving it more by the minute. And I have a trip coming up this next weekend so I can completely "OD" on it there and back on the flight. Music makes MomCat so happy! Yay!
  
• Explain to me how an 8-year-old boy can still have extreme night terrors/nightmares, and yet will take his new skateboard down a driveway at high speeds without elbow or knee pads and brag about his latest stunts thus causing his mother twice the stress in one day? Me thinks I really need this weekend getaway to see an old friend...
  
• On the subject of nightmares...any tips for helping with this? Last night was the second night that my son has let out an long blood-curdling scream about 2:30 a.m. and sprinted down the stairs to our room completely terrified. My heart was racing for a good 30 minutes after this, but worse was that I was so wired and worried afterward that I stayed awake for the next 3 hours. Ugh!
  
• I apologize for my lack of blogging about things that matter--such as my weekend marriage retreat, which was amazing. Aside from the difficulty of not knowing where to begin with how it went, or how much to share, we have also had hiccups since then that quickly discouraged me. Thankfully, we worked through them using the tools we've learned, so I'm still very happy with taking the time and spending the money on the workshop. One of these days, I'll sit down and tell you all about it, I promise!
  
• Why do I find myself hating the work in the old field that I used to actually like so much? The pay is incredible, the hours so flexible, my boss is more a friend and peer than a boss. It is perfect. But, I can't get motivated or into it. I find myself thinking more about my latest fluffy magazine story, getting assignments out for the next issue, and so forth. Have the long hours of a magazine editor completely ruined me for a future in an actually lucrative paying job when both the kids are in school? I really didn't expect this!
  
• What do you do when you're asked to review something by the actual creator of the product and you agree, later to find that you have no interest at all in spending the time researching so you can give an objective opinion? Ahh...finally the negative to getting all of this free stuff! Argh!
  
• And, speaking of, I was giving the opportunity to try out a new running shoe in exchange for a write-up. It's the first review that I've been so anxious and happy to do because, dang, I really need new treads in a big way. And, now it keeps getting delayed. I don't want to buy new shoes, but my feet are killing me. Double ARGH!

OK, enough "arghing" for tonight. I'm turning in! Share your latest favorite CD in comments, will ya? I need more new tunes for my girls' weekend trip to see my dear friend and kimosabe!

"Everybody Needs a Second Chance"

From the moment it arrived in my house, it beckoned me.

Perhaps it was because of the disappointing experiences long ago, or my love of song, or my deep desire to take Kelly Clarkson's vocal chords and transplant them into my own...

All that I know is, it took every fiber of my being to not Karaoke on my sister-in-law's machine for my son's 8th birthday.

I smiled and listened as my son attempted his favorite guitar song, Smoke on the Water. My sister-in-law gave Big and Rich's Ride a Cowboy a whirl. (I am quite certain she'd never thought about the meaning to the words of that song beforehand.)

And, then she left...telling us she'd leave it with us for a few weeks after seeing my daughter's enthusiastic screaming into the microphone with the echo machine on. For some reason, everyone in the room was in tears laughing as my daughter rolled on the floor squealing in a way that sounded like a beached whale bellowing for help or some sort of dolphin-dialect.

Me, I didn't find it funny...I just saw the writing on the wall.

She is going to be as tone-deaf as me...the singing wannabe, too afraid to Karaoke.

It isn't like I haven't tried before---years ago at a moms' group retreat, I jumped in with a God-awful rendition of Build Me Up Buttercup, only to try and redeem myself with It's Raining Men. Thankfully, both were with a partner. Not so thankfully, we both have low voices which seemed to be about a key off of one another. No amount of wine that evening could have covered our voices destroying those two perfectly wonderful songs.

And, since then, I have contained myself to car singing or the occasionally iPod vocals when no one is around, and I've never gone near a Karaoke night again.

Until yesterday...when I could take it no more.

The box sat there with all of these great 70s and 80s hits just waiting for me. Begging me to come and try them out. Hit me with Your Best Shot, Free Ride, I Love Rock-N-Roll, all of them! It was just too much, I tell you!

So, last night, after dinner, I could wait no longer. And, I pounced.

I pushed away from my dinner chair and walked directly to the machine while my family watched in bewilderment. After all, I had shown no interest in the machine since we got it. I put in the CD and let the music take me away.

After a rather deep version of The Devil Went Down to Georgia where I'd only missed one word, I put the microphone down feeling triumphant--like a huge weight had been taken off my shoulders. I looked around at my family. My son sat wide-eyed with his mouth open. Then, I looked to my spouse for approval.

"It was...certainly, um...low...kind of monotoned even..." He said with a strange and traumatic look on his face.

Rejection. Again. Sigh.

But, in my failure, a new generation of Karaoke enthusiasts was born. My son has mastered the words to Everybody's Workin' for the Weekend, Van Halen's Jump, and is working on The Devil now too. He loves the music. And, surprisingly, this little box is helping his reading too as he has to read quickly to keep up.

And my daughter? She still sounds like a dying whale. Oh well, at least there is hope for one of us...

Proof. That. I. Am. Insane.

An update--thanks to everyone for the advice--my friend basically told me she just knew I was having a hard time and that's all her message about the country song meant. No drama to be had. Oh, and she occasionally reads this blog. So, if she does tonight and she reads this, yes I am fully certifiable. And, obviously, overly sensitive right now about everything! GAH!

In other news, I am happy with my latest downloads from Itunes and thought I'd share. I'm debating scrapping my aerobics class for the treadmill and weights tomorrow just so I can listen to them all--which is really out of character for me. There's some oldies and some newbies, some rock and some country, and I'm a musical schizophrenic. Oh, and I can't wait to try them on the treadmill!

Will Smith - Switch
Kanye West - Gold Digger
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer (love this one!)
Big & Rich - Save a Horse
Brad Paisley - Ticks
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army (I'm late to join the Stripes frenzy--this is awesome!)
Fallout Boy - Dance Dance
Fallout Boy - This Ain't a Scene It's an Arms Race
Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
Prince - Let's Go Crazy
Crystal Waters - 100% Pure Love (From the back to the middle and around again...woo! hoo!)
Three Days Grace – Pain (LOVE IT!)

A purely hypothetical question...

So, say you had entertained in your preteen and teen years, a very serious crush on a really hot 80s pop star. Oh, let's say it was someone, for example, like Rick Springfield. And, let's say you had all of his albums and you even currently own his greatest hits album which you plan to put on your Ipod in the next few days.

OK, now, let's say you found out that Rick was coming to a concert venue near you. And, deep down, while feeling embarrassed, you really want to go. But, you are stuck with the who-to-invite-to-the-cheesy-aging-pop-icon show. Do you:

A. Invite your fun new neighbor friend who seems to have so much in common with you and thereby run the risk of her instantly thinking of you as a dork for asking.

B. Convince your long lost friend who achieved her dream of getting an autograph of a certain equally cheesy 80s singer (whose last name rhymes with "rant") to visit Texas when she's already vowed to not set foot in this sauna until the horrible summer heat has made its exit.

C. Bribe and coerce your spouse into taking you, which will require a LOT of payback since he still teases you for taking you to see Beauty and the Beast when you were first dating in college.

D. Buy the ticket just for yourself as an early birthday present and go, donning a wig, trench coat, and dark sunglasses, and hoping that you can contain yourself at the sight of Ricky-poo and not throw an undergarment on stage for him to sign?

So, what do you do?

This is just hypothetically, now. No, really....really! I mean, I've already told you that he's not aging that well. So, it wouldn't be ME wanting to go!

In the Thicke of Something...

What is the deal with Robin Thicke, people? This guy is ALL OVER THE PLACE. And, I have a problem with this. Yes, I'm going to step out there and go against a coveted "Oprah" pick to say that I just don't get what all the fuss is about with this guy.

OK, he's decent looking enough. But, the first time I saw him, all I could do was thinking about his Dad, Alan Thicke. You know, Jason Seaver on Growing Pains? Kurt Cameron's slightly nerdy therapist Dad? He looks way too much like him, if you asked me. And, as a child of the 80s, I loved me some Kurt Cameron. I'll admit it. And, I totally wanted Joanna Kerns hair. But, Jason Seavers was not my bag, baby.

Then, there's his voice, which sounds a little too much like he's been sucking helium for me to take it seriously. The first comment my husband made when he saw the guy on the t.v. the other day was "what is wrong with his voice?"

Finally, the little Hitler-stache has GOT to go. I'm telling you, I just don't get what all the hub-bub is here. Maybe I'm missing something though...

I do have to give him some props however. Because I found THIS publicity photo of him from his first album.

Ok, now that IS some kind of evolution. One that might even impress the Geiko caveman! Well, after seeing that, I guess I can put up with the mini 'stache. And, who knows? Maybe he'll finally go through the voice change and sound like Barry White by his third album!

Words to live by...a new mantra...

If you are interested in a little bit of my perspective after my first (very quick) trip to our nation's capitol, check out my latest post on The Soccer Mom Vote. Now, back to my regularly scheduled blog post...
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Every once in awhile, a song comes along that just touches me and really speaks to the place that I am in my life at that time. When I heard Martina McBride's new song, Anyway, performed on American Idol several weeks ago, I was brought to tears. First of all, she is one of my all time favorite vocalists and, unlike many of the pop performers who have performed on AI this year, she really brought the house down with her song. But, it also got me because the words really spoke to my heart. A heart that is trying so desperately to quiet the negative and pessimistic voices and listen only to those that feed it more positively and lead me to a happier place in my life...all the while being in some emotional times that make that difficult to do many days.

So, for you today, I give you...my new mantra...

Anyway
Performed by Martina McBride

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away

Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way

Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today

Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away

Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway
Yea - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang

Sing it anyway
Yea - sing it anyway

I sing
I dream
I love
Anyway

Redeeming myself...and randomness...

Well, all was not lost, as my last post may have indicated...

• The legend of the Tooth Fairy lives on, thanks to my note and lots of surprised faces from both my husband and me when my son showed it to us. One thing I love about children is that, if they truly want to believe, they will believe. (That and slipping him an extra dollar didn't hurt!)
  
• In approximately a day and a half, I will be on a plane to visit Virginia and our nation's capitol for the very first time. Our impromptu trip came thanks to my husband's company who offered to pay our way, our room and our rental car for the weekend. So, tell me, what are the MUST see things in DC (aside from the obvious)? We will only be there two days, so I have a feeling it is going to be a whirlwind trip.
  
• And, until that time, there will be a whirlwind of crazy activity here as I try to get everything prepared to leave. (Yes, I haven't even started.) My mind has not been on this trip at all. I decided that if I have to stay up until all hours the night before, I will. But, I'm going to enjoy the last few days I have my daughter in Mother's Day Out before summer break. Today involved a few hours of scrapbooking with old friends, tomorrow will be my card making workshops at the church and Thursday will include a few more hours of scrapbooking. I don't care how far I am behind. (Don't talk to me about this on Thursday night though...)
  
• When we return, I will be going into full-on commando potty training mode. The diapers are history, my friends. I will win this battle with my 3-year-old if it is the last thing I do!
  
• How about that American Idol? I have run out of haiku now that I'm happy if any of the top three win. I have a feeling it will be Melinda and Jordin, but I thought Blake did great tonight. So, tell me, for whom are you rooting?
  
• Random aside: I grew up in a small Texas town and got my share of country music. As an adult who has lived in all three of the largest Texas cities, I have grown to have very diverse musical tastes. I like this about myself, actually. But, there is one reason I still go back to my country music now and then. Where else, could you find lyrics like these:

I'd like to see you out in the moonlight,
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks,
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers,
And, I'd like to check you...
...for ticks.

Check back here late on Friday--not for ticks--but for my review of something that I know all mothers of boys will appreciate.